One of the first items on the agenda this year was for our club to find a service project. The pandemic didn’t stop us from donating to local and state non profits but it was time to “get our hands dirty” and come up with something for the community. Brainstorming led us to choose building new baseball dugouts on Sherman Field at Boothbay Region High School.

A committee was formed who met with head of maintenance David Benner. Dave agreed the existing dugouts were badly in need of repair. Built probably sometime in the ’90s, the dugouts have seen many baseball teams over the years come and go but the existing dugouts would tip over with a strong storm and needed more than a simple repair.

Talks with town code enforcement and the Boothbay Harbor town manager have happened and now our club is ready to proceed. Plans drawn up by Lion Paul Greenleaf include not only two new buildings (one with a storage locker) but also concrete pads and new fencing in front of them. Both dugouts and the baseball field will have total access to comply with coding. Helmet cubbies and bat hooks will also be added.

Estimates on the new dugouts come to around $20,000. Lion Paul Greenleaf has offered to build them but we’ll need help from community members as well. Monetary donations may be mailed to Boothbay Region Lions, P.O. Box 598, Boothbay Harbor, ME 04538 and earmarked “Dugouts.” All monies will go into our 501 (c) 3 and checks should be made out to “Lions Pride.” If you’d like to donate your time to help build, please contact our club president Lion Jay Andrews at 207-633-6777.

Late summer, early fall is when we hope to have them in place. Lions motto is “We Serve.”

Update: The club would like to clarify that they will proceed once the appropriate go ahead is given from all those involved. Buildings will be built off site and then donated to the appropriate entity.